Apparatus and method for reinforcing tobacco web



y 1962 T. A. GODFREY 3,036,579

APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR REINFORCING TOBACCO WEB Filed July 18, 1958 '7 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR THOMAS A. GODFREY BY Kai ATTORNEY May 29, 1962 T. A. GODFREY 3,036,579

APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR REINFORCING TOBACCO WEB Filed July 18, 1958 7 Sheets-Shet 2 FIG. 2

lNVENTOR THOMAS A. GODFREY w d mz,

ATTORNEY May 29, 1962 Filed July 18, 1958 T. A. GODFREY 3,036,579

APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR REINFORCING TOBACCO WEB 54 52 4a 5 FIG. 3

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- INVENTOR THOMAS A. GODFREY ATTORNEY T. A. GODFREY May 29, 1962 APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR REINFORCING TOBACCO WEB 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed July 18, 1958 ATTORNEY May 29, 1962 T. A. GODFREY APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR REINFORCING TOBACCO WEB 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed July 18, 1958 FIG. 6

FIG. 7

INVENTOR THOMAS A. GODFREY ATTO RN EY May 29, 1962 T. A. GODFREY APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR REINFORCING TOBACCO WEB Filed July 18, 1958 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 wmw OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO May 29, 1962 T. A. GODFREY 3,036,579

APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR REINFORCING TOBACCO WEB Filed July 18, 1958 '7 Sheets-Sheet 7 V INVENTQR w THOMAS A. GODFREY ATTO NEY United States Patent 3,036,579 APPARATUS AND METHOD FUR REENFGRMNG TGBACCQ WEB Thomas A. Godfrey, Elmont, N.Y., assignor to International Cigar Machinery Company, a corporation of New Jersey Filed Early 18, 1958, Ser. No. 749,420 15 Claims. (Cl. 131-29) This invention relates to machine manufacture of cigars, and more particularly to the manufacture of cigars having a wrapper or hinder made from continuous tobacco web material.

Certain cigar manufacturers desire in such cigars to provide a web reinforcing strip at the head end of the cigar. Such strips are generally of non-tobacco material and water insoluble. Certain known plastic materials, as for example Mylar and other cellophane-like materials, are used for the reinforcing strip. Such materials are resistant to the teeth and saliva of the smoker, and maintain the security of the head end of the cigar during smoking.

It is an object of this invention to provide a method and apparatus for applying such reinforcing strips to the head end of a cigar, and more particularly, to the head end of the cigar binder web.

It is an object of the invention to locate a reinforcing strip on the outside of a binder web so that it may be rolled with the binder about the cigar bunch.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a small tab end portion on the reinforcing strip laterally of the web to provide for gripping the strip as Well as the web to transfer both Without disturbing their relationship.

It is a further object to provide such a tab so an adhesive may be readily applied thereto, so that the reinforcing strip may be secured upon itself during bunch rolling and provide greater security and firmness.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for accomplishing the above objects and for delivering the reinforcing strip to the binder web in a suitable associated relationship, and the maintaining of such relationship during transfer to, and while on, the rolling table.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a new method of securing such a reinforcing strip to the head end of the cigar by providing contact between the ends of the strip after bunch rolling so that the strip may be adhesively secured upon itself.

It is a further object of the invention to provide means for synchronously feeding a portion of tobacco Web from a continuous source and a portion of reinforcing strip from another continuous source, and severing predetermined leading portions of the Web and the strip, and then placing the severed strip so it underlies in a predetermined angular relationship the severed web.

The novel features which I believe to be characteristic of my invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. My invention itself, however, both as to its organization and method of operation, may be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which: k FIG. 1 is a plan View illustrating the reinforcing strip feed in conjunction with an automatic web binder feed;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the reinforcing strip feed;

FIG. 3 is an end elevation of the same illustrating the reinforcing strip cutting mechanism;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation of the web binder feed illustrated in conjunction with the reinforcing strip transfer and conveying mechanism;

FIG. 5 is a partial side elevation of the reinforcing strip mechanism in conjunction with strip transfer and conveying mechanism;

FIG. 6 is a sectional end elevation of the reinforcing strip transfer mechanism;

FIG, 7 is a plan view of the reinforcing strip transfer mechanisms in conjunction with a partial plan view of the strip feed and cutting mechanism;

FIG. 8 is a plan view illustrating the combined web binder and reinforcing strip forwarding and conveying mechanism;

FIG. 9 is a plan view showing the relationships of a reinforcing strip underlying the tobacco web material on the binder or wrapper die and after transfer to the rolling table in position for the rolling and pasting operations; and

FIG. 10 is an end elevation partly in section showing the pasting roller applied to a projecting tab on the roller table.

With reference to the drawings illustrating the reinforcing strip feed illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 5, the strip material is pulled in the form of a web SW from a reel SR over a web control collar 10 by means of a plurality of upper and lower feed belts 12 and 14, which are driven intermittently by an upper and lower feed roller 16 and '18, respectively.

The reel SR is supported by means of two conical flanges 2t and 22. Flange 24 is integral with a suitable sleeve 2-4 (FIG. 3) rotatably supported by a horizontal stud shaft 26 projecting from and secured to a bracket 28, which in turn is mounted on a bearing bracket 30. The latter is secured to a supporting plate 32 held by a bracket 34 (FIG. 2) mounted on one of the side edges of the bed plate 36 of the cigar machine. The hub of the conical flange 22 is provided with a thumb screw 38 to detachably secure flange 22 to the sleeve 24 of the conical flange 20 (FIG. 3). Integral with the conical flange 20 is a disc 4! provided with an annular groove 42 engaging a roller 44 pivotally secured to the free end of a threaded stud 46 held in a threaded boss 48 of the bracket 28. The threaded stud 46 is equipped with a knob 5%} for turning the stud to effect a lateral adjustment of the conical flanges, and consequently a lateral adjustment of the reel SR and web SW.

To prevent overrunning of the reel SR during the intermittency of its feed motion, the conical flange 2% is provided with an annular groove 52 engaging a brake band 54-, one end of which is anchored to the free end of a stud 56 while the other end is secured to a horizontally slidably adjustable stud 58 carried by a lug 60 projecting from the hub of an arm 62 loosely mounted on a stud 64 projecting from and held by bracket 28.

To pin 65 on the free end of arm 62, is pivotally attached one end of a link 66, whose other end is provided with a slot 68 (FIG, 2) engaging a pin 70 projecting from and held by an arm 72 pivotally mounted on hearing bracket 30. The free end of arm 72 carries a stud shaft 74 which rotatably supponts the web control roller 10. Smooth operation without jerky motion is assured to the brake linkage system during the intermittent feed action by a roller balance spring 76 anchored at its upper end to the pin 65, while its lower end is fastened to the pin 70 of the roller carrying arm '72. From the arrangement of the web control roller 10 in conjunction with the brake band linkages, it is self-evident that in case of a breakage of Web SW the weight of the roller 10 forces said linkage downward and. tightens the brake band 54 in the groove 52, while during normal feeding action said band receives only sufficient tension to effect a desired drag on the reel SR.

As mentioned heretofore, the web SW is intermittently advanced by means of the upper and lower feed belts 12 and 14 driven by the feed rollers 16 and 18, respectively. Upper feed belts 12 are led over a front guide roller 811, while the lower feed belts 14 are led over a front guide roller 82 (FIGS. 2 and Both front guide rollers 81 and 82 are rotatably supported by suitable bearing brackets 84 mounted on the supporting plate. To prevent horizontal shifting of the feed belts 12 and 14, the latter engage with and are confined in suitable grooves of their respective feed and guide rollers. The upper feed roller 16 is rotatably mounted on a horizontal shaft 116, both ends of which are provided with suitable eccentric extensions 88 (FIG. 2) supported by vertically slidable springmounted bearing blocks 90 slidably mounted in suitable slots of bearing brackets 30. One of the eccentric extensions '88 is provided with a suitable lever or finger 92 (FIG. 2) to raise the upper feed roller and belts for web threading purposes.

The lower feed roller 18 is mounted on a horizontal shaft 94 rotatably supported in suitable bearings of bracket 30. For trouble-free synchronized feeding, the upper feed roller shaft 86 and the lower feed roller shaft 94 are connected by a pair of suitable gears 96 (FIG. 1). To one end of the lower feed roller shaft 94 is secured a suitable one-way clutch 93 (FIGS. 1 and 3) connected to a sprocket 1011 loosely supported by shaft 94. Sprocket 100, by means of a chain 102, is connected to a sprocket 104 secured to an oscillating shaft 166 rotatably supported by a suitable bearing bracket 111$ secured to the bottom side of plate 32. To shaft 106 is also secured a crank arm 110, whose free end is connected by a rod 112 to an actuating lever 114 (FIGS. 2 and 3) rotatably supported by a horizontal stud shaft 116 secured to and held by the side frame of the machine (FIG. 2). The hub 118 of actuating lever 114 is integral With a cam lever 120 having a cam roller 122 engaging a cam 124 on a cam shaft 126 continuously driven by the main drive of the machine (not shown). The oscillating motion imparted by cam 124 is translated into intermittent one-way rotary motion at the clutch 98 through the connection described above.

During operation, a predetermined length of web SW is advanced by the feed belts 12 and 14 over a bridge and ledger plate 128 onto a hollow elevator platform 130 which at the time of feeding operation is adjacent to and in horizontal alignment with the ledger plate 128, which in turn is rigidly secured to the brackets 84 adjacent the delivery end of the feed belts 12 and 14 as illustrated in FIG. 5.

The elevator platform 130 at one end is secured to the top end of a vertical shaft 132 which is vertically slidable as well as rotatably supported by a vertical bearing stand 134 secured to the supporting plate 32 (FIGS. 2, 4, 5, and 6). The lower end of vertical shaft 132 is provided with an annular groove 136 (FIGS. 5 and 6) which engages with a pair of diametrically opposed clutch collar shoes 138 which are pivotally attached to the forked end portion of an elevator actuating arm 146 mounted on a horizontal oscillating shaft 142 supported by suitable bearing blocks 144 secured to the supporting plate 32. To shaft 142 is also secured a lever 146, the free end of which, by means of a rod 148, is connected to an arm 150 integral with and projecting from a hub 152 loosely mounted on shaft 116 (FIG. 2). Integral with and projecting from said hub 152 is a cam lever 154, the free end of which carries a cam roller 156 engaging with a cam 158 mounted on the cam shaft 126. The vertical shaft 132 is provided with a suitably curved longitudinal groove 160 (FIGS. 5 and 6) which engages with a roller 1'62 pivotally mounted on a horizontal stud 164 held by the top portion of the vertical bearing stand 134. The latter, of course, is also provided with a pair of diametrically opposed vertical slots 166 to permit free up-anddown movement of the protruding clutch collar shoes 138 which are pivotally attached to the forked end portion of arm 140 as mentioned heretofore.

From the arrangement shown in the drawings and described above, it is self-evident that any oscillating motion imparted to televator arm 14% by cam 158 through the linkages and levers described will result in a vertical raising and lowering as well as in a horizontal swingng of the elevator platform 1311 with the shaft 132. Top wall or cover plate of the hollow elevator platform is provided with a plurality of suitable holes 166, while the bottom wall is provided with a thru-wall hose fitting 163, which in turn, by means of a flexible tube 170, is connected to a suction control valve 172, which is con nected to and mounted on a suction distributing chamber 174 identical with the one illustrated and described in a patent application filed May 5, 1955, by H. H. Wheeler, Serial No. 566,129, now Patent No. 2,846,010 issued August 5, 1958. Chamber 174 (FIGS. 1, 3, and 4) by means of a suitable tube 176, is connected to a suitable source of suction (not shown).

The suction control valve 1'72 is provided with a butterfly type of valve plate 178 mounted within said valve on a horizontal rod or shaft 181) which is oscillated by means of a lever 1&2 which in turn, through a rod 184, is connected to the free end of a cam lever 186 (FIGS. 2 and 3) loosely supported by a horizontal shaft 188 held by the frame of the machine. Cam lever 136 carries a cam roller 1% which engages with a earn 191 secured to the cam shaft 126. The horizontal shaft 180 extends into another suction control valve 192, which is also provided with a butterfly type valve plate 194 mounted on shaft 189 within said valve as illustrated in FIG. 1. Suction control valve 192 is also connected to and mounted on the suction distributing chamber 174, and is provided to control the suction to other parts of the mechanism described hereinafter.

The vertical rod 184 which connects the valve actuating lever 182 with the cam lever 186 carries a lug 1% (FIGS. 1, 2, and 3), the free end of which projects beneath a knife actuating arm 198 secured to and extending from a shaft 2% rotatably and suitably supported in a bearing provided in bracket 31 and a bearing lug 202 extending from ledger plate 12% (FIGS. 5 and 7). To that end portion of the shaft 200 which protrudes from the ledger plate lug 2112 is secured a suitably shaped knife blade 2114. A suitable tension spring 206 keeps knife 204 in proper tension against ledger plate 128 (FIG. 7). Spring 2136 surrounds shaft 20% and is confined between the rear side of ledger plate lug 202 and a collar 298 secured to shaft 200.

During feed operation, feed rollers 16 and 18 through feed belts 12 and 14 advance the leading end of the web SW a predetermined distance onto the elevator platform 1.30 which at this moment is horizontally aligned with the feed belts as well as with the bridge ledger plate 128. As soon as a predetermined length of web SW is fed onto platform 1311, cam lever 186 imparts a vertical lift to the rod 184 (FIG. 3) which in turn, through lever 182 and shaft 181}, causes an opening of valve plate 178 within suction control valve 172 thus permitting suction to reach the elevator platform 130 to effect an arrest or an adhering of the length of web fed onto said platform. During a continued vertical upward motion of rod 184, the lug 1% carried by said rod will contact the free end of the knife actuating arm 1% and swing the same in an upward direction turing shaft 2% to force the knife blade 2&4 downward and thus sever the length of web arrested on platform 130 from the Web SW proper.

As soon as this length or strip S on platform 130 is cut from the web SW, cam lever 154 through arm 150, rod 148, lever 146, shaft 142 and elevator actuating arm imparts a vertical upward movement to the shaft 132, to the top of which is secured the elevator platform 130. Since, as described heretofore, the curved track or groove in shaft 132 engaged with the stationary held roller 162, said shaft and consequently platform 130 during their upward movement are rotated or turned in such a fashion as to cause the strip carrying platform to arrive at a desired angle (FIG. 8) when elevated to its maximum height as indicated in dottedv lines in FIG. 5.

Since the reinforcing strip S is to be used to reinforce that portion of the cigar binder which will enwrap the cigars head end, the reinforcing strip feed described above is combined and illustrated in conjunction with an automatic roll tobacco sheet feed similar to the one shown and described in Wheeler Patent 2,846,010. In this automatic roll binder feed, the binder web BW (FIGS. 1 and 4) is pulled from a roll or reel BR by a pair of intermittently driven feed rollers 210. The latter work in conjunction and synchronism with a reciprocating suction feed head 212 which picks up the leading end of the web BW from a web supporting plate 214 and carries the same forward and across a suction table 216, after which said web is deposited thereon and suction feed 212 returns to its original starting position.

The reel BR is supported by a horizontal shaft 218 rotatably held in suitable bearings of a frame bracket 220 fastened to the bed plate 36 of the cigar machine. The lower feed roller is mounted on a shaft 222 to which is secured a gear 224 which meshes with a gear 226 carried by a shaft 228 to which the upper feed roller is mounted. The upper feed roller shaft 228 is provided with eccentric extensions which are supported by spring urged slidable bearing blocks of identical design and construction as the one shown and described in the above mentioned Wheeler Patent 2,846,010. Said bearing blocks are slidably confined in suitable slots in bracket 220 and the lower feed roller drive shaft 222 is rotatably supported by suitable bearings in the same bracket. To shaft 222 is also secured a one-way ball clutch 230 (FIG. 1) which engages with the hub of a sprocket 232 loosely mounted on shaft 222. Sprocket 232 engages with a reciprocating chain 234 which runs over an idler sprocket 235 and is connected to a suitably shaped reciprocating slide bracket 236 slidingly supported by a horizontal guide rail 238 (FIG. 4) fastened to the bed plate as of the machine. Slide bracket 236, through a link 240, is connected to the free end of an oscillating arm 242 which is activated through a suitable linkage and cam in the same manner as shown and described in aforementioned Wheeler Patent 2,846,- 010. To the top portion of slide bracket 2% is mounted a bearing bracket 244 (FIG. 1) to which is stationarily secured a horizontal shaft 245 which pivotally supports a forked or U-shaped carrier bracket 248 from which is adjustably suspended the suction web feed head 212. To give additional support to the horizontal shaft 246, the free end of the latter is provided with a guide roller 250 (FIG. 8) which engages with a horizontal track 252 integral with a bracket 254 secured to bed plate 36. The horizontal shaft 246, by means of two forked brackets 256 and 258 (FIG. 1), carries and supports two cutting rollers 260 and 262 respectively.

The cutting roller carrying brackets 256 and 258 are yieldingly connected with two suitable brackets 264 and 266, respectively, in a manner well known in the art to provide resiliency and suflicient pressure to the cutting rollers to effect the desirable cutting action when passing over a suitably shaped stationary knife 268 secured to the front or leading end of the suction table 215 as more fully shown and described in the aforementioned Wheeler Patent 2,846,010.

The U-shaped bracket 248 is held in horizontal position by means of a spring mounted plunger 270 engaging with its free end with a suitable hole 272 (FIG. 4) in a boss 274 of bracket 248. Plunger 270 is held by a lug 276 secured to shaft 246. Since this structure is identical with the one shown and described in the aforesaid Wheeler Patent 2,846,010, further details are omitted. From the U-shaped carrier bracket 248, by means of a pair of lugs 278, is also suspended a comparatively flat suitably shaped suction chamber 280 (FIGS. 5 and 8), the bottom of which is provided with suitably arranged holes 282 (FIG. 8) while the chamber proper, by means of a tube 284, is connected to a flexible duct 286 which forms the connection between the suction web feed head 212 and the suction control valve 192 on the suction distributing chamber 174. The suction feed head 212, of course, is provided with a plurality of suitable holes 213 on its bottom portion. The forward end of the binder web supporting plate 214 on which the leading end of the binder web BW is placed when starting the machine is provided with a plurality of conveniently arranged holes 288 (FIGS. 7 and 8) which lead to and are connected with a suction chamber 290 secured to the bottom surface of said plate 214. Suction chamber 290 by means of a tube 292 is connected to the suction control valve 172 which is the same valve which also controls the suction line to the hollow elevator platform described heretofore.

As illustrated in FIG. 1 of the drawings, the reinforcing strip feed SP is mounted at right angles to the binder web feed BF and arranged in such a way that the strip feed intercepts the binder feed at a location between the suction table 216 and the binder web feed rollers 210 with the reinforcing strip elevating mechanism positioned below the path of the binder web so that the reinforcing strip may be fed and applied to the underside of the binder web.

A suitably arranged gap 294 in the binder web supporting plate 214 permits the strip carrying elevator platform 130 to contact the bottom side of the binder web. Since the driving and control carns of the reinforcing strip feed mechanism as well as of the binder web feed mechanism are mounted on the common cam shaft 125, the machine is so synchronized as to effect a simultaneous feeding of the reinforcing strip web SW and the binder web BW. During this simultaneous feeding operation, the leading end of the reinforcing strip web SW, by means of feed rollers 16 and 18 and belts 12 and 14, is advanced onto the elevator platform 130, which at this moment dwells at its lowermost position horizontally aligned with said feed belts 12 and 14, while the leading end of the binder web BW is pulled over the suction table 216 by means of the forward moving web feed head 212 operating in conjunction with the binder web feed rollers 210.

During this feed operation, the butterfly valve 194 in the suction control valve 192 is open and the butterfly valve 178 in suction control valve 172 is closed, thus applying suction to the web feed head 212 and the suction chamber 280, to lift the binder web from the supporting plate 214 for transfer to suction table 216. Since the butterfly valve 178 in suction control valve 172 is closed, no suction can reach the hollow elevator platform 130 nor the suction chamber 290 beneath the perforated forward end of the web supporting plate 214, thus the leading end of the reinforcing strip web SW can be advanced onto the elevator platform 130 without interference while at the same time the leading end of the binder web BW is carried across the suction table 216.

Suction table 216 is in its downwardmost position when the binder web is carried over it to provide suficient clearance and prevent any contact during the forward travel of the cutting rollers 260 and 262 with the upper edges of the knife 268 mounted on and carried by the suction table 216. The suction table 216 is suitably connected to the suction system, vertically movable and surrounded by a stationary frame 296 secured to a plate 298 serving as a cover for a chamber 300 in a bracket 302 mounted on the bed plate as. Chamber 300 communicates with the suction distributing chamber 174 which, as mentioned heretofore, is permanently connected to a suitable source of vacuum or suction. by the tube 176. When the suction table 216 is in its lowermost position, no suction is admitted to the latter. However, as soon as the binder web BW is carried over the suction table 216 by the feed head 212, the table 216 just raises 7 sufficiently to admit suction to the latter and to bring the upper edges of the knife 268 in the path of the cutting rollers.

As soon as the table 216 is raised, the butterfly valve 194 in' suction control valve 192 is activated and closed, and thus the suction is transferred from feed head 212 and suction chamber 280 to suction table 216. When butterfly valve 194 closes, the butterfly valve 178 of control valve 172 opens to apply suction to the suction box 280 located beneath the forward end of the web supporting plate 214 and also to the hollow elevator platform 130, thus holding (a) the binder web BW to table 216 as well as to the perforated forwardmost end of the web supporting plate 214 and (b) the length of reinforcing strip web SW to the elevator platform 130.

The butterfly valve actuating rod 184 during opening of suction control valve 172 manipulates, through lug 196 and arm 198, the knife blade 204 to cut a reinforcing strip S from the reinforcing strip web SW fed on the elevator platform 130. At the same time the carriage assembly, consisting of the feed head 212, the cutting rollers 260 and 262 and the suction chamber 280, returns to its original starting position, cutting during this return stroke a binder B from the binder web BW as illustrated in FIG. 1. After the carriage assembly reaches its backmost or starting position, suction table 216, due to the action of a cam (not shown), is moved further upward until it contacts the bottom surface of a binder transfer head 304 (FIG. 4) of a binder transfer mechanism BT.

During this upward movement of the binder carrying suction table 216, the leading end E is trimmed to proper shape by a spring urged knife 306 (FIG. 1) on a pivot 310 cutting in conjunction with a ledger plate 398 secured to the forward end of the suction table 216. After the binder carrying suction table 216 has contacted the bottom surface of the binder transfer head 3G4, suction is transferred to head 304 from table 216.

As mentioned above, the binder web BW is firmly arrested by suction on the forward end of the web supporting plate 214 during the return stroke of the carriage assembly from the suction table 216 to its starting position. As soon as said carriage assembly reaches the latter, the elevator platform 13!) now carrying the firmly held reinforcing strip S moves upward and into the gap 294 of the web supporting plate 214 until it contacts the bottom side of the binder web BW with the platform being swung during its ascent from a right angular position to an angular position with relation to the binder web. This angle is preferably the same as the angle of the knife 268 since it is designed to form a parallel reinforcing ring about the head end of the finished cigar bunch. In FIG. 7 the elevator platform 130 is shown in its lowermost and strip receiving position, while in FIG. 8 the elevator is shown in its raised and strip delivcry and applying position and at the desired angle in relation to the binder web BW.

As illustrated in FIG. 8, the suction chamber 280 suspended from the carrier bracket 248 above the binder web BW and the web supporting plate 214 covers the approximate area above the reinforcing strip and is provided at its bottomside with a suflicient number of holes 232 to properly attract a certain portion of the binder web as well as the ends T, T1 of the reinforcing strip extending beyond the Width of the binder web. The reinforcing strip S must be cut sufficiently long and placed beneath the binder web in a manner to assure that each end of the strip S projects sufficiently from the side edges of the binder web to be held by suction chamber 280 for transfer with the binder keb to table 216 (FIG. 1).

As soon as the reinforcing strip carrying elevator contacts the bottom side of the binder web bridging the gap 294 of the supporting plate 214, butterfly valve 178 in control valve 172 is closed and the butterfly valve 194 in control valve 192 is opened thus transferring the suction from the elevator platform 1.30 as well as from the to suction box 290 beneath the forward end of web supporting plate 214 and applying suction to the web feed head 212 and the suction chamber 280, thus the leading end of the binder web is picked up by feed head 212 and both binder web and the reinforcing strip S are picked up by the suction chamber 28!). The elevator platform then descends to its strip receiving position while the feed head 212 and suction chamber 280 move forward to place the leading end of the binder web with the reinforcing strip onto the suction table 216, while at the same time a new length of reinforcing strip web SW is fed into the elevator platform 13b to repeat the cycle.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the exposed ends T and T1 of the reinforcing strip also permit the transfer head 304 with the appropriate suction holes to pick up and transfer the reinforcing strip S with the binder B while maintaining their same relative position. Transfer head 304 moves to a bunch rolling table. The projecting end T1 serves as the paste receiving place to prevent opening of the bunch after rolling. The strip S itself forms a firm, well attached holding and reinforcing ring about the head end of a cigar bunch.

FIG. 9 shows, in the left-hand portion thereof, the disposition of the cut binder B and the reinforcing strip S, after transfer to the bunch rolling table RT from the die table, shown in the right-hand portion of FIG. 9, and also in FIGS. 1 and 4. The transfer is effected, as mentioned in the last preceding paragraph, by transfer head 3114 indicated also in phantom in FIG. 10. The transfer mechanism is well known in the art, being described for instance in Patent 2,287,004, granted to H. H. Wheeler, June 16, 1942.

In FIG. 9, the tobacco filler is shown at F being formed into a bunch by the filler roller FR and the rubber apron RA, as well known in the art.

At the left in FIG. 9 is shown the paste roller PR in position to be applied to tab T1 by the mechanism indicated at the left in FIG. 10 and shown and described in full in Patent 2,391,294, granted to S. Clausen, December 18, 1945.

I claim:

1. In combination with a cigar machine having means for feeding successive web portions from a continuous source, a table for supporting a leading section of web from said source, means to draw said section across said table, there being an opening in said table, a source of continuous reinforcing strip material, severing means for severing predetermined portions from said strip material, feed means to deliver a predetermined portion from said last mentioned source, a transfer adapted to grip said severed portion and to deliver said severed portion to said opening in said table, a suction transfer device adapted to grip said web on said table, said suction transfer device having other instrumentalities for simultaneously gripping said strip in said opening to transfer said web and said strip away from said table.

2. In combination with a cigar machine having a table, a transfer device to transfer a portion of web material from said table to a receiving station on said machine, there being an opening in said table underlying said web material, means to deliver a predetermined portion of strip material to and beneath said web through said opening, said means comprising facilities for delivering said strip material so that it engages said Web material displaced angularly from a position transverse to said web.

3. In a cigar machine having a supporting surface for tobacco web material, a transfer device having first suction means to transfer a portion of tobacco web material from said surface, said surface being adapted to support said web portion prior to transfer and having formed therein an opening underlying a predetermined area of said web portion, an elevator having gripping means thereon to grip a portion of reinforcing strip and to elevate said strip through said opening to associate said strip with said web material, said strip having portions extending beyond the edges of said web material, said transfer device being adapted to grip said web material and said transfer device having second suction means adapted to grip said extended portions of said strip, whereby said web material and said strip may be transported together while maintaining the relationship of said strip to said web material.

4. In combination with a cigar machine having a station for trimming to a predetermined shape a portion of web material, transfer means to transfer said web material from said station to a web material receiving station on said machine, an initial table to receive said web material, there being a substantially transverse slot in said initial table, instrumentalities to feed a portion of reinforcing strip, a mechanism adapted to receive said strip from said instrumentalities and to transfer said strip to said substantially transverse slot and underlying said portion of said web material on said table, the length of said reinforcing strip being somewhat greater than the transverse dimension of said web material to provide an extending tab of said strip beyond the edge of said web material, a transfer device to transfer said web portion and said associated strip to said trimming station, said transfer device gripping said web and the extending tab of said strip underlying said web material.

5. In combination with a cigar machine having a station for trimming to a predetermined shape a portion of web material, first transfer means to transfer said web material from said station to a web material receiving station on said machine, an initial table to receive said web material, there being a substantially transverse slot in said initial table, instrumentalities to feed a portion of reinforcing strip, a mechanism adapted to receive said strip from said instrumentalities, second transfer means to transfer said strip to said substantially transverse slot and underlying said portion of said web material on said table, the length of said reinforcing strip being somewhat greater than the transverse dimension of said web material to provide an extending tab of said strip beyond the edge of said web material, a third transfer device to transfer said web portion and said associated strip to said trimming station, said strip underlying said web material, said first transfer means having gripping means thereon both to grip said tab an said web during transfer of said web portion from said trimming station to said receiving station.

6. The combination of a continuous intermittent feed means of tobacco Web with an intermittent feed means of reinforcing strip arranged substantially at right angles to said Web feed means, a table having a transverse slot, said web feed being adapted to feed a predetermined leading portion of said web across said table, suctional gripping means on said table to grip said web, an elevator mounted beneath said table to receive said strip from said strip feed means, suctional gripping means on said elevator to grip said strip, said elevator means being movable upward through said slot in said table to raise said strip to a position underlying said web and extending a portion of said strip beyond the border of said web, a transfer mechanism, suctional gripping means on said transfer mechanism, operative to engage said web and said extending portion of said underlying strip to transfer said Web and said strip in said associated position to a receiving station, whereby said web and said strip may be handled as a unitary entity.

7. The combination of a continuous first intermittent feed means of tobacco web with a second intermittent feed means of reinforcing strip arranged substantially at right angles to said web feed means, a table having a transverse slot, control means in said first means to carry a predetermined leading portion of said web across said table, gripping means on said table to grip said web, an elevator in said second means, mounted beneath said table to receive said strip, gripping means on said elevator to grip said strip, means for actuating said elevator upward through said slot in said table to raise said strip to a position underlying said web so at least one portion of said strip extends beyond the border of said Web, a transfer mechanism, gripping means on said transfer mechanism, operative to engage said web and said extending portion of said underlying strip to transfer said web with said strip in said extended and underlying position to a receiving station, whereby said web and said strip may be handled as a unitary entity.

8. A device for pre-forming a tobacco web binder having a reinforcing strip, comprising a table having a slot formed therein, mechanisms to feed from a source a leading portion of web to said table, cutting means to sever from said source said leading portion of web at said table, a source of continuous reinforcing strip material, instrumentalities to sever a leading portion of said strip material from said source and to position said strip material in said slot formed in said table to underlie said severed web portion thereon, said instrumentalities being operative to position said strip material so a small portion extends beyond the edge of said web, a web trimming station, and a transfer mechanism adapted to grip the upper surface of said web portion and the upper surface of said underlying strip material extending beyond the edge of said web, and to transfer said web and associated strip material to said web trimming station.

9. A device suitable for attachment to a cigar machine for pre-forming a reinforced tobacco web, comprising a table suitable to receive a portion of web from a source, releasable gripping means to retain said portion on said table, said table having a slot formed therein, a source of continuous reinforcing strip, a device adapted to re ceive a portion of said strip, severing means at said device to sever a leading portion of said strip, releasable gripping means on said device, means for actuating said device to move through said slot formed in said table to position said severed strip portion beneath said web, said strip portion having linear dimensions suflicient to extend a small amount beyond the dimensions of said web, other gripping means to grip said Web and the extending portion of said strip, means for releasing said releasable gripping means on said table when said other gripping means grip said Web and said extending portion of said strip, means for moving said other gripping means to a trimming station, and devices at said trimming station to trim said web to a pre-determined shape.

10. A machanism to prepare and deliver a reinforced tobacco web comprising a table to receive a portion of Web, said table having formed therein a slot, means to deliver a portion of strip material into said slot to underlie said web, said strip material extending slightly beyond the borders of said web, exposing a portion of said strip material, and a transfer device having suctional gripping means suitable to apply suction to the upper surface of said Web and to the upper surface of the extending strip material to transport and deliver said associated web and strip material.

11. A mechanism substantially as set forth in claim 10, further characterized in that said mechanism includes means for actuating said transfer device to deliver said Web to a bunch rolling table and a device suitable to apply an adhesive to said exposed extending strip material whereby When said reinforced web is rolled in a cigar, said strip may be rolled and adhesively secured upon itself.

12. In the manufacturing of a cigar, having a bunch charge, preparing a binder web, preparing a reinforcing strip having a linear dimension slightly in excess of the width of said binder web, associating said strip and said web so said strip underlies said web adjacent its head end and substantially transverse thereto, transporting said web and said strip in said associated relationship by gripping said web and the extending portions of said strip, applying adhesive to at least one of said extending tabs of said strip, and rolling said Web and said strip in a cigar and having said strip adhere on itself.

13. The method of preparing a web for a cigar having a reinforcing strip comprising severing a predetermined portion of tobacco web material, placing beneath said material and adjacent the head end thereof a strip of reinforcing material having a linear dimension slightly in excess of the width of said web to provide extending tabs and a transverse dimension which is small relative to the length of said predetermined portion of tobacco web )9 material, and transporting said web material and associated strip by simultaneously gripping said web material and the extending tabs of said strip.

14. In the manufacturing of a cigar, having a bunch charge, preparing a binder web, preparing a reinforcing strip having a linear dimension slightly in excess of the Width of said binder web, associating said strip and said web so said strip underlies said web adjacent its head end and substantially transverse thereto, transporting said web and said strip in said associated relationship by suctionally gripping said web and the extending portions of said strip, applying adhesive to at least one of said extending tabs of said strip, and rolling said web and said strip in a cigar and having said strip adhere on itself.

15. A cigar machine having a table with means therein for shaping a tobacco web, means connected to said table for forming a reinforcing strip for said web, means in said machine to position said strip beneath said web 12 while said web is on said table in such manner that a portion of said strip projects beyond said web, a rolling table on said machine, and transfer means in said machine for transferring said web and said strip from said shaping table to said rolling table.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 435,510 Meyer Sept. 2, 1890 779,688 Butler Ian. 10, 1905 865,012 Butler Sept. 3, 1907 1,046,643 Quester Dec. 10, 1912 1,088,533 Cameron Feb. 24, 1914 1,116,419 Hammerstein Nov. 10, 1914 1,393,524 Grupe Oct. 11, 1921 1,969,834 Berriman Aug. 14, 1934 2,165,289 Milrnoe July 11, 1939 2,167,170 Burns July 25, 1939 2,220,071 Avery Nov. 5, 1940 2,316,784 Gladeck Apr. 20, 1943 2,391,294 Clausen Dec. 18, 1945 2,451,920 Clausen Oct. 19, 1948 2,846,010 Wheeler Aug. 5, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 742,561 Germany Dec. 7, 1943 569,486 Great Britain May 25, 1945 

